Ottawa County

History

On September 10, 1813, during the War of 1812, nine vessels of the United States Navy under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, decisively defeated six vessels of Great Britain’s Royal Navy in the Battle of Lake Erie near Put-in-Bay. This action was one of the major battles of the war.

Ottawa County was formed on March 6, 1840, from portions of Erie, Lucas and Sandusky counties. It was named after the North American Indigenous tribe of the Odawa.

In 1974, the County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The county is notable in presidential politics for being a recent bellwether, having continuously voted for the winning candidate for thirteen elections from 1964 to 2016.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 255 square miles (660 km2) is land and 330 square miles (850 km2) (56%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Ohio by land area. It borders Ontario across Lake Erie.

Adjacent counties

Essex County, Ontario, Canada (northeast across Lake Erie)

Erie County (southeast)

Sandusky County (south)

Wood County (west)

Lucas County (northwest)

National protected areas

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,364. The median age was 50.0 years. 18.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.1% of the population.

37.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 17,748 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.1% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 28,596 housing units, of which 37.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.7% were owner-occupied and 20.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 41,428 people, 17,503 households, and 11,884 families living in the county. The population density was 162.5 inhabitants per square mile (62.7/km2). There were 27,909 housing units at an average density of 109.5 per square mile (42.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.6% were German, 11.9% were Irish, 9.8% were English, 6.3% were American, and 6.1% were Polish.

Of the 17,503 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.1% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,463 and the median income for a family was $64,258. Males had a median income of $52,736 versus $33,557 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,809. About 6.3% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 40,985 people, 16,474 households, and 11,729 families living in the county. The population density was 161 inhabitants per square mile (62/km2). There were 25,532 housing units at an average density of 100 units per square mile (39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.56% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 3.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,474 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,224, and the median income for a family was $51,919. Males had a median income of $39,823 versus $24,727 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,973. About 4.20% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.40% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Prior to 1912, Ottawa County was a Democratic Party stronghold in presidential elections. Starting with the 1912 election, the county was a national bellwether, only backing losing candidates in 1940, 1944, 1960 (Richard Nixon) and 2020 (Donald Trump).

Government and politics

County officials

The County elects 9 officeholders.

Transportation

Major highways

8 major highways run through Ottawa County, including two interstates, and eight state routes.

Airports

Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport

Middle Bass-East Point Airport

Middle Bass Island Airport

North Bass Island Airport

Put-in-Bay Airport

Communities

City

Port Clinton (county seat)

Census-designated places

Curtice

Lakeside

Williston

Unincorporated communities

Catawba Island

Danbury

Elliston

Forest Park

Graytown

Gypsum

Isle St. George

Lacarne

Limestone

Martin

Middle Bass

Notable residents

Louis C. Shepard - American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient from Ashtabula County, buried in Lakeview cemetery, Port Clinton, Ohio.

Crystal Bowersox, singer-songwriter, runner up on American Idol